The Council of Europe has launched a new project in Bosnia and Herzegovina to support BiH authorities in aligning laws, policies, and practices with Council of Europe standards for combating digital and sexual violence against women. These standards primarily include the Istanbul Convention, case law of the European Court of Human Rights, and the European Union acquis.

The project’s Steering Committee meeting was held today in Igman. The Committee’s task is to support, guide, and oversee the implementation of the project. It consists of relevant gender equality bodies at BiH and entity levels, BiH and entity justice ministries, entity interior ministries, the Belgian Embassy to BiH, and civil society organisations in the role of observers.

Building on the foundations of the 18-month pilot project led by the Council of Europe in 2023-2024, the current project will focus on three key areas: strengthening laws and policies to improve protection measures, enhancing the capacities of relevant institutions, and raising awareness of digital and sexual violence as distinct forms of violence against women. By addressing these critical issues, the project seeks to foster a more effective and coordinated response to gender-based violence, which ultimately leads to better protection of the rights of all women in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Head of the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Unit, Elena Jovanovska-Brezoska, welcomed the commitment of all stakeholders to continue working to ensure that victims of violence receive adequate protection and redress for violation of their rights in line with the Istanbul Convention and other standards.

The project will continue our collective efforts, together with the BiH authorities to respond to the gaps identified in the prevention and prosecution of digital and sexual violence against women and protection for the victims. The Council of Europe will continue to provide  its expertise  on European standards regarding the consent-based definition of sexual violence, including rape and technologically facilitated violence against women, and share promising examples and practices from other Council of Europe member states, added Jovanovska-Brezoska.

The project “Combating digital and sexual violence against women in Bosnia and Herzegovina II” is implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022-2025 and funded by voluntary contributions.

Read more:

 General Recommendation No.1 on the digital dimension of violence against women, Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO)

 Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention)